University of Georgia Researchers report that volunteerism in the United States has been rapidly declining, and the economy may be at fault.
The research conducted at UGA suggests that economic uncertainty and social unrest has caused rapid declines in volunteerism across the U.S.. Income inequality has grown, forcing people to work more, leaving them no time to volunteer.
Rebecca Nesbit, one of the researchers conducting the report, writes that “Economic disadvantage appears to compound itself” which leaves “individuals in poorer communities [to] volunteer less.”
Though research shows a decline, all hope is not lost. Advocating for policymakers to support the use of state and federal grants to rebuild the volunteering framework could be the revival the organizations need.